Out Today

As the tongue-in-cheek title and cover art may suggest, 'Sob Rock' is John Mayer's tribute to the adult contemporary titans of the 1980s. Album opener 'Last Train Home' begins with the kind of backbeat and synth stabs that Toto's Porcaro brothers made a signature, while 'New Light' is propelled by a toe-tapping gentle funk. Elsewhere, the singer-guitarist rattles off blues licks redolent of two other great axemen-turned-smooth icons: Eric Clapton and Mark Knopfler. Country singer Maren Morris guests, as do session giants Greg Phillinganes and Lenny Castro alongside Mayer's frequent collaborator Pino Palladino (himself no stranger to 80s studio masterpieces- that fretless bass on 'Boys Of Summer', anyone?), Don Was co-produces.

Some 16 years after the pair teamed up for 'Superwolf', guitarist Matt Sweeney and Bonnie 'Prince' Billy return with its follow-up 'Superwolves', featuring an appearance from Tuareg guitarist Mdou Moctar on CD and indies coloured vinyl. After a run of albums with his 4th Dimension band, the great John McLaughlin mixes things up on 'Liberation Time', working with a number of different ensembles and styles from his usual fusion to straight ahead post-bop. CD out today with vinyl to follow.

The prolific Richard Norris releases the Kosmische inspired 'Hypnotic Response' (Dinked Edition sold out in seconds but standard formats available), Spandau Ballet's Gary Kemp strikes out on his own with 'InSolo' and there's a first album in thirteen years from Stephen Fretwell 'Busy Guy', issued on the cult Speedy Wunderground label. There's also a new baby blue vinyl pressing of one of the albums of the year so far: The Weather Station's 'Ignorance'.

Reissues

'Cold War Psychedelia' is a limited edition vinyl issue of previously unreleased 82-89 work from Julian Cope & The Teardrop Explodes, "music from the death throes of Liverpool's maddest band". 

Following Luaka Bop's excellent compilation of her devotional music there's an Impulse! issue of Alice Coltrane's 'Turiya Sings' the first album to feature her vocals on a set of Hindu bhajans, originally available on cassette to fellow members of her ashram. 

There's another immaculate entry in the Too Slow To Disco compilation series: 'Yacht Soul' focuses on ace soul and funk cover versions from the likes of Aretha Franklin, Millie Jackson and the Brothers Johnson of songs written by yacht rock royalty like Michael McDonald, Donald Fagen and Ned Doheny. In today on CD with a limited edition coloured vinyl released tomorrow for RSD.

Pre-orders

Canadian jazz/instrumental hip-hop outfit BADBADNOTGOOD announced a brand new album 'Talk Memory', featuring guest spots from Arthur Verocai, Terrace Martin and Laraaji. We've got a handful of limited edition zines to give away with the first few pre-orders.

There's a trio of releases celebrating anniversaries: The New Pornographers' classic 'Mass Romantic' turns 21, Roger Sanchez's dance anthem 'Another Chance' (built from a Toto sample nonetheless) gets a 20th anniversary 7" picture disc pressing, while Grizzly Bear's 'Yellow House' turns a sprightly 15.